They can say what they like but they won't have to deal with how you feel afterwards. They won't have to deal with the consequences - like feeling hurt or regretting what's happened, getting pregnant or catching a sexually transmitted infection.

The right time?

The law gives clear guidance on this one - you can't decide to have sex for yourself until you're sixteen (read more about sex and the law).

Some people choose to have sex before they're sixteen but research shows most people wait until they're older.

When UK charity YouthNet asked 2042 young people across the UK, only 37% said they'd lost their virginity before the age of 16.

Among young people who said they were unhappy about the first time they'd had sex, 40% said it was at least partly because it happened when they were too young.

The right person

Choosing to have sex should be like the icing on the cake of any relationship. It's not a reason to be together.

Think about how you'll feel about this person and yourself after you've had sex.

Research by YouthNet found that a whacking great 70% of people who were unhappy about their 'first time' said it was at least partly because it was with the wrong person.

Talk about it

If you can't talk about sex with a partner before you do it, then having sex with them is a bad plan.

You need to be able to talk with each other about how you both feel and what you do and don't want to do.

Last but not least, you need to talk about how you're going to have safer sex.

It might also help you to talk to a trusted family member, like your parents or a brother or sister. Having sex is a big deal so talking to someone you trust can help you think it through.